SAP Announces First LTE Roaming Hub in Middle East; Etisalat First to Connect

SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) has announced an IPX peering agreement with Etisalat UAE, the largest telecom operator in the Middle East and Africa, to deliver LTE roaming traffic to all mobile operators.

This agreement further strengthens the commitment of SAP® Mobile Services, a division of SAP, to quickly and efficiently expand the LTE roaming community and create a seamless global roaming experience for mobile subscribers.

This strategic LTE roaming and diameter peering agreement will help Etisalat operator companies to interconnect with SAP Mobile Services’ strong IPX customer community and launch LTE roaming quickly. This agreement will also help SAP Mobile Services establish strong and steady growth in the Middle East and build on existing LTE roaming peering between the two companies.

“We are committed to expanding the global peering community. Launching the LTE roaming peering hub enables SAP Mobile Services to rapidly and efficiently launch peering with other operator communities across the world and deliver increased business value to Mobile Operators,” said Matthew Tonkin, vice president, Sales, IPX, SAP Mobile Services. “The next 12 months will see an acceleration of LTE network deployments, with operators looking for immediate and comprehensive international coverage. Collaboration with Etisalat, currently the only Middle Eastern IPX, provider helps SAP reach the largest operator community in the region and globally.”

“We are delighted to be working with SAP Mobile Services to mutually enhance our customers’ mobile roaming experience,” said Ali Amiri, executive vice president, Carrier and Wholesale Services Etisalat UAE. “The agreement will also help SAP Mobile Services to establish a strong and steady growth in the Middle East and take LTE roaming services to a new level, building on the existing LTE roaming peering between the two companies. Etisalat SmartHub IPX is a strategic addition to the Etisalat SmartHub portfolio, which will enhance our role as a global communication hub. SAP will be an important part of this journey. Operators joining the Smarthub IPX will have access to the SAP community and vice versa, providing a single point of interconnect.”

Etisalat is the largest telecommunications operator in the Middle East and North Africa region catering to consumers, businesses, international telecommunication companies, ISPs, content providers and mobile operators. Servicing over 143 million customers in 15 countries in Middle East, Asia and Africa, Etisalat has achieved more than 20% growth in subscriber base in 2012 across its land line, mobile, and Internet services.

About Marc Mcilhone

Marc Mcilhone is ArabBrains' Editor - sourcing news and features content and overseeing the work of the site’s contributors. Marc’s work is informed by his technical background in architecture having worked for some of the UK’s leading practices on projects within the education, healthcare and housing sectors. Marc has a particular interest in how innovators are creating sustainable solutions that have a positive impact on people’s everyday lives.
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